Zemitrella mahoenuica is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Columbellidae, the dove snails.MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Zemitrella mahoenuica Laws, 1935 †. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=831101 on 2023-11-18
Description The shell of Zemitrella mahoenuica can reach a length of and a diameter of .
The shell is very small. The spire is biconic, its height of the spire about half that of the aperture. There are four post-nuclear whorls. The protoconch is damaged. The whorls are very lightly convex. The suture is slightly above the periphery and more distinct of that of Zemitrella haroldi. The whorls of the spire are devoid of sculpture, save for a single distinct incised line as a submargin to the suture. The body whorl is broadly convex in a single sweep from suture to the base where it very slowly retreats to the axis of the shell. The base is only slightly excavated. The basal threads are about the same as in Z. haroldi. The aperture is long and narrow, filled with a hard matrix. The shell is strongly variced near the outer lip. The base of the columella is flexed a little to the left. Laws, C.R. (1935) New Tertiary Mollusca from New Zealand-no. 3. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 65, 30–43, pls. 5–7
Distribution Zemitrella haroldi is endemic to New Zealand. Fossils have been found in Tertiary strata near the Awakino River.
References
Maxwell, P. A. (2009). Cenozoic Mollusca. Pp 232-254 in Gordon, D. P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.